Texas Health Hospital Frisco and UT Southwestern Medical Center Frisco A Health and Well-Being Destination That Provides Better Access to Specialized Care
Frisco, Texas, USA
The Challenge
Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern Medical Center sought to weave a major health care institution into a newly emerging community on the outskirts of a major city. A driving force of the design was a relabeling of the traditional “hospital” to a “health facilitator.” To achieve this, the design team sought to integrate the building program into the existing community as an experimental project that focuses on a holistic user experience, passive sustainability and biophilic design principles that support the model of care.
The Design Solution
Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern Medical Center joined forces to develop a hospital and outpatient specialty campus that is a health and well-being destination. Faculty and community physicians work together together to serve the needs of the Frisco community through a coordinated network ranging from primary care to specialized expertise.
To efficiently evaluate the best strategies for integrating a health care facility into a suburban community, the design team evaluated a similar Texas Health facility using a mini design diagnostic tool. This involved staff shadowing to evaluate how operations and design can affect the standard of care.
Located on a 20-acre greenfield site, the unique campus combines research, education and multispecialty care. A garden bisects the campus and connects it with the surrounding area, inviting community members to enjoy the walking trails, outdoor educational classes and a café. The interior’s warm, earthy tones, natural materials and environmental elements create a warm, welcoming environment designed to promote relaxation.
The Design Impact
The site opens to the community, providing walkability and fitness-related activity by strategically locating walking paths and extending preserved greenspace towards the surrounding neighborhoods.
The project’s sustainability measures allow a reduced environmental footprint. Rainwater, runoff and mechanical condensate are collected and filtered for site irrigation, significantly reducing the hospital’s water usage and saving the client $2 million in development impact fees. The project’s insulated thermo-mass precast concrete system is climate responsive and protects against extreme weather events, and a 30/70 window-to-wall ratio lessens overall solar heat gain and air conditioning energy output and costs.
Project Features
- 80-bed acute care hospital
- 12 LDRPs
- 4-bed NICU Level II
- 2 C-section rooms
- 20-bay ED
- 12 observation rooms
- 6-OR suite
- 7 clinic modules with 12 exam rooms each
- Physical therapy gym
- Nutrition education
- Conference center and cafe
- Shell space for 60 more beds
Awards
- 2021 People’s Choice Award (AIA Dallas Enlaces)
- 2021 Best in Competition (IIDA Healthcare Design Award)
- 2021 Touchstone Award, Silver (Center for Health Design)
- 2021 Master Planning Honor Awards (AIA Detroit)
- 2021 Honorable Mention (HCD Healthcare Design Showcase)